Cover and dispenser for milk cans and the like



R. H. LEHEW Dec. 1, 1936.

COVER AND DISPENSER .FOR MILK CANS AND THE LIKE Filed eat. 29, 1935 m mw m Patented Dec. 1, 1936 COVER AND DISPENSER FOR MILK CANS AND THE LIKERobert H. Lehew, Highland Park, Mich.

Application October 29, 1935, Serial No. 47,277

2 Claims.

My invention relates to covers and dispensers for use in connection withmetal containers of the type employed for condensed milk, syrups, andsimilar products, and its principal object is 5 to provide means wherebythe contents of the container may be dispensed in such quantities as arerequired from time to time, the materials remaining in the containerbeing in the meantime protected from contamination.

According to the present practice in handling products of the characterreferred to, two holes are punched in the lid of the container atdiametrically opposed points, one of said openings being used forpouring out the contents while the other is employed for the admissionof atmospheric pressure in order to facilitate the pouring action. Afterthese holes have been Q made and a portion of the contents dischargedfrom the container, the latter is stored in some 20 convenient placeuntil such time as a further supply is required. In the meantime theresidual contents are exposed to contamination by the entrance of dustand dirt through the openings as well as to the attacks of flies, ants,and other 25 insects, so that it is often necessary to discard thecontainer while a portion of the contents are still retained therein.

According to the present invention I have provided means whereby theopenings above referred 30 to are kept covered when the container is notin use, and I have at the same time provided a spout through which thecontents may be more conveniently poured.

A further object of my said invention is to provide a device of thecharacter referred to which is simple in construction and which can beproduced economically in large quantities by modern methods ofproduction.

With these and other objects in view, a preferred form of my device willbe hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanying tommember 2 and top member 3. 4 is the body of my device which consistsessentially of a flat circular cover 4| having a dependent cylindricalrim 42 of an internal diameter suitable for fitting over the top of thecan and provided with a resilient lining 43 of rubber or other suitablematerial so that the rim can be fitted tightly upon the cannotwithstanding slight variations in the external diameter thereof.Secured to the upper surface of the member 4| is a member having at oneend a. spout 5| which is formed integral with a fiat portion 52 whichfits tightly against the upper surface of the supporting member. In thefiat portion 52 and located upon the median line :t-a: of the can are apair of circular openings 6, the opening 6 being used for the ingress ofatmospheric air, while the opening 1 is employed for egress of theliquid contained in the can in the manner well known in the art.

Within a rebate 53 in the member 5 is slidably mounted a strip 8 ofmetal or other suitable material which is adapted to form a movableclosure for the openings 6 and 1. For this purpose there is provided acircular opening 8| which coincides with the opening 6 when the partsare in the relative positions shown in Figure 3, while at the same timethe extremity 82 of the member 8 is moved away from the opening I. When,however, the member 8 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow yin Figure 3 so that the parts then occupy the positions shown in Figure2, the holes 6 and l are closed. In order to facilitate movement of themember 8 there is provided an upturned portion 83; Connection of themember 5 to the member 4| is effected through integral tongues 54 whichproject through slots in the member 4| and are bent over as shown inFigure 4. Alternatively, however, riveting or spot-welding may beemployed for this purpose.

In operation, the device is placed over the top of the can as shown inFigure 1 and the member 8 moved into the open position as shown inFigure 3, leaving the top member 3 of the can exposed. Openings 3| arethen made in the can by means of any convenient pointed instrument, sothat when the can is tipped the required amount of liquid may be pouredout through the spout 5|, after which the member 8 is moved into theposition shown in Figure 2 and. the openings 6, l are covered, as beforestated. 7

It will be observed from the foregoing description that I have provideda device which is well adapted for the purpose intended and which may beeasily and quickly applied to the container. Moreover, my device willeifecutally prevent the admission of dust, dirt, or insects to thecontents at all times, and while I have herein described a preferredembodiment of my invention it will be understood by those skilled in theart to which the same refers that the same may be modified to suit anyparticular or peculiar requirements Without departing from the spirit ofmy invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, instead ofemploying the rubber lining 43, I may form the rim 42 of resilientmaterial and slit the same vertically at one or more points as indicatedin broken lines at 44 in Figure 1.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a cover having asubstantially flat top and a cylindrical rim adapted to fit over acontainer, a, pair of diametrically opposed openings in said top, amember superposed upon said cover having openings coincident with saidfirst-mentioned openings and having a pair of upstanding convergentwalls adapted to form a spout, a

longitudinal, diametrically extending recess upon the underside of saidmember, and a strip of metal slidably received within said recess havinga pair of openings adapted to be brought into coincidence with theopenings in said cover and to be moved out of coincidence therewith toform a closure for said last-mentioned openings.

2. A device of the character described comprising a cover having asubstantially fiat top and a cylindrical rim adapted to fit over acontainer, a pair of diametrically opposed openings in said top, amember superposed upon said cover having openings coincident with saidfirstmentioned openings and having a pair of upstanding convergent wallsadapted to form a spout, a longtudinal, diametrically extending recessupon the underside of said member, and a strip of metal slidablyreceived within said recess having a pair of openings adapted to bebrought into coincidence with the openings in said cover and to be movedout of coincidence therewith to form a closure for said last-mentionedopenings, one end of said strip being turned up at right angles andprojecting through one of the openings in the spout member to form ahandle.

' ROBERT H. LEI-IEW.

